My Beautiful Boy

Listen

I.
My beautiful boy,
masculinity is not
a bumper sticker
of clichés
but an epic poem
that you must
write and rewrite.
i need to say to you:
don’t settle
for the comfort
of easy answers.
People will try
to box you in
and stifle the air
you breathe.
Life as a caged bird
breeds anger,
resentment,
and apathy.
Your mom and i
want more for you:
caged birds
are not free.

II.
My beautiful boy,
everything worthwhile
is uncomfortable.
Compassionate integrity
requires great effort.
i need to say to you:
don’t settle
for the comfort
of easy answers.
Some crown anger
and condone
male violence.
Remember you’re storied
into a current of history
where to feel alive
the muscles
of your body
must learn
when to resist
and when to rest.
Feel the winds of change
trade your cage for wings
and become
a flesh and blood eucharist.
–
–

III.
My beautiful boy,
i won’t always be here
your hands
the tiny fingers
i have held
for 13 years
are slipping
from mine.
i need to say to you:
with great passion
and action
with two measures
of tenderness
empower
the breathe and clay
of your body
to be a eucharist with wings
give and receive
nurture deep connections
break and bless
live with the questions.
Blessed is the man
blessed is the man
my beautiful boy
who writes his story
who finds his strength
through mountains and seas
of vulnerable love.